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Alabama Beaches Double Sports Revenue in 2009

1/25/2010

GULF SHORES and ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Despite the economic woes of 2009, the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission (AGCSC) closed the year with increases across the scorecard. After seeking out new events and supporting existing island events, they serviced a total of 51 events in 2009 that generated an additional 23,155 room nights for local accommodations. Ultimately, these athletic events lead to $7.6 million in total spending (combined room and additional spending), which is double 2008’s 3 million figure.

“We are ecstatic to see numbers like these,” said Beth Gendler, director of sales for the AGCSC and the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. “These numbers prove that people still traveled in 2009, and one compelling reason – in addition to our amazing beachfront – was sporting events. With generous annual sponsors, helpful city leadership and a pool of always eager volunteers, our sports commission achieved a new level by working with 22 more events in 2009. The additional work definitely paid off in the end.”

New to the AGCSC calendars was the slew of baseball and softball tournaments for the United States Specialty Sports Association. The area welcomed a handful of smaller tournaments and truly felt a big impact from the two-weekend World Series.

“We hosted 93 teams of 10, 12 and 14-year-old boys for the first tournament and then saw about 72 teams of 9, 11 and 13-year-olds,” Gendler said. “Including family and friends who traveled to see these boys compete, the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach community saw more than 4,200 room nights for the first tournament and more than 3,700 nights for the second. These events were by far our largest ones for the year, and we are proud to have worked hand in hand with this phenomenal organization to bring them to our beaches.”

The growth continued into the fall as the area hosted two expanded Team Magic events.

AGCSC and Team Magic officials moved the Brett Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon from the spring to the fall so that it would have ideal circumstances to grow and not compete against as many regional springtime race events.

“We also added the shorter Tri-It-On triathlon, which saw 345 participants,” Gendler said.

Growing from 201 participants in 2008 to 706 in 2009 lead to additional 423 room nights and tourism impact of $113,000 for Pleasure Island.

Along similar lines, the Kaiser Coastal Half-Marathon, 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run grew to 581 for the late November race, up 277 registrants from the 2008 race. Part of this growth can be attributed to the addition of the 1 mile fun run, which was added in 2009, and to the half-marathon course improvement.

Each of these events will return for the 2010 AGCSC line-up, which will exceed 50 events.

“Our commission’s success would not be possible without the unwavering support of our partners and annual sponsors,” Gendler said. “We greatly value their support as we enter 2010.”

Annual sponsors include the following businesses: (diamond level) AL.com, Clear Channel/WKSJ, (platinum) Brett/Robinson, Kaiser Realty, (gold) The Hangout, (silver) Fairfield Inn and Suites, Spectrum Vacations, Young’s Suncoast, (bronze) Caribe - The Resort, Flippers Restaurant, Honours Golf, Microtel Inn and Suites, Original Oyster House, The Wharf Rental Management Company (champion) Beach Express, Cosmo's Restaurant, Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express Orange Beach - On the Beach, IMAX Naval Aviation Memorial Theatre, Island House Hotel, Lester's Restaurant, LuLu's at Homeport Marina, Meyer Real Estate, Perdido Beach Resort, Rum Runners at The Wharf, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, Staybridge Suites, and Tacky Jack's Bar & Grill.

The Sports Commission is a partnership between the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce and the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

For information, please visit www.alabamagulfcoastsports.com, or call 1-800-745-SAND.

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